August 2022 Summaries

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Tuesday, August 30

SC21-1047 State of Florida v. Herbert Leon Manago Jr.

Volusia County – Begins at 9:00 a.m. ET

Manago was 17 years old when he committed first-degree murder and carjacking with a firearm. The trial judge sentenced him as a juvenile to life in prison without parole. As a result of changes in juvenile sentencing law, Manago requested and was granted resentencing. Based on the resentencing judge’s finding that Manago “actually killed, intended to kill, or attempted to kill” the victim, the court resentenced Manago to life in prison with a 25-year judicial sentence review. Acknowledging that Florida law requires a jury, not a judge, to make that factual finding, the trial court conducted a harmless error review and found its own error harmless. Manago appealed, and the Fifth District Court of Appeal vacated his sentence and remanded the case for resentencing without the option of empaneling a jury to make the factual finding. The State of Florida asks this Court for review, arguing that the Fifth DCA’s decision conflicts with another appellate court decision.

SC21-1479 David William Trappman v. State of Florida

Santa Rosa County - begins about 9:40 a.m.

Trappman was convicted of battery on a law enforcement officer and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and sentenced to a total of ten years in prison. Trappman appealed to the First District Court of Appeal, arguing that his convictions violate double jeopardy because the offenses occurred during one continuous criminal episode. The First DCA held that Trappman’s acts of shoving a police officer and then siccing a dog on the same officer were “distinct acts” and that double jeopardy did not apply in this case. The First DCA then certified conflict with another appellate court decision. Trappman asks this Court for review of the First DCA’s decision.

Wednesday, August 31

SC20-605 Inquiry Concerning a Judge, No. 19-409 Re: Barbara Kaye Hobbs

Second Judicial Circuit – Begins at 9:00 a.m. ET

Circuit Judge Barbara Kaye Hobbs has been summoned before the Court to receive a public reprimand for misconduct.

SC21-1001 William E. Wells III v. State of Florida

Bradford County - begins about 9:10 a.m.

Wells was convicted of the first-degree murder of fellow inmate William Chapman, who was stabbed and strangled to death at Florida State Prison in 2019. The trial court sentenced him to death. This is his direct appeal.